Putterman



Feb. 7, 1956 L. PUTTERMAN 2,733,930

COLLAPSIBLE UTILITY CART WITH REMOVABLE CONTAINER Filed OCT.. 3, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l Hy. I .f/cy Farm/WAN IN1/EN TOR.

ATTO/PMD Feb. 7, 1956 PUTTERMAN 2,733,930

coLLAPsIBLE UTILITY CART WITH REMOVABLE CONTAINER Filed oct. 3, 1952 s sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 7, 1956 L. PUTTERMAN 2,733,930

COLLAPSIBLE UTILITY CART WITH REMOVABLE CONTAINER Filed C'C. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 wilIlll/lllllllllilii(llllll \\\\\\\\\\\\& 'IlIIIIlIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL Lacy Parri/PMA INVENToR.

Unid safes Patent' o 2,733,930 coLLAPsmLE UTILITY CART WITH REMovA'BLfIE y"cONTMNER Lucy APutterman, .Forest Hills, .N. Y. Applicafionocfober s, -19sz,;searNo.s1z,991 vv'lemma wieso-41) :ing :two .wheels only are, moreover, diilicult 4to 'transport 4over steps and stairs even when 1in empty-"or partly 'filled condition.

The gprimary .object 'of my invention is 'to -provide -a V-cart .which is :iitted with Y`four wheels, so 'that :itcan be `readily :moved up on curbs -and fotherfelevated x'locations,

.the .cart being tted with .a .ba'g r'which fis :completely .covered and can :be -readily .l removed from thel cart lwith- .out special equipment.

It is, accordingly, aan iimportant object of `my nven- .tion .to provide .a collapsible three 'or 4our wheel -.cart .of the character described adapted, for purposes Aof .storage,"toassurne.a collapsed 1position in which the -space occupied by. it isfless.or.notsubstantia1ly greater than that .occupied -by acomparable :two-wheel cart of .considerably smaller capacity.

It is also an object of the present inventiontoprovide, in .a utility carthaving affront vwheel .assemblyfandfafrear wheel assembly, .mechanism .for so .raising one tof .these wheel .assemblies with .respect to the "other l.that .transvprtation of the cart oversteps for .stairs .will fbevconlsiiielably facilitated. v

.Another .feature of my vinvention .resides in the lfact thatdt is: light, of :rigid construction, and :can be; produced at relatively Vlow cost.

A nfurther vobject is to .provide acarrier cart, which can be ,produced in a wide .range vof sizes, .and can .be vutilized v'fora wide .variety of ,purposes and applications.

Another Aobject .ofthis invention is .to provide a fourwheel zutility cart of -sturdy construction .and capable `df supporting a bag or container 'of vlarge capacity, v .yet adapted upon removal of said bag 'or `container Ito be collapsed into a position of minimum volume in which vi'the r'neznbersv of its frame structure areatle'a'st isubstantialfly taligned in fa :single plane.

ilhe'accompanying drawings, illustrative of one embodiment'of mysinvention togethertwiththe'description oflits construction and the method of voperation andfutilizatio'n thereof, will `serve `totclarify further objects *and advantages of my invention.

.In .the drawings:

v'Fig l lis aside elevation of theassembledcarriercart, with .the bag `in .place, alsofshowing the wheels and l"the Icarriageiframe folde'daga'in'st the tubular vertical handle 'support'nembers'in dot-dashlines.

Fig. 2 is "a 'front'elevat'ion of the assembled caiercart `fshow'nin lFig. "l, with the lbagin place, 'a portion "of the 2,733,930 yRateriteii Feb. "7, 1956 upper'sec'tion ofthe bag being broken iaway to show the bag support bracke't.

Fig. S'Iisfaplanzviewof thecartshown in Figs. l and 2, -with fa portion of vthe .bag cover broken away to show the :bagf'constructi'om and bagsupporting structure.

Fig. 4 -is 'a section through one of the tubular handle support'membersrand thecross-.barfsup'port bracket, taken at 44,.'Fig. l.

yFig. 5 is across-'section through the bag support cross bar and a sidef'elevation offthe/crosS-bar 'support bracket .sh'owniinfFigs l'and 4, vtaken at 5"5,:Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 :is afcrossfsection through the open top of the bag Sand4 the bag-support bracket, :shown in Figs. l and y-2, taken at 6 6, Fig. 1.

*Fig 7 Y.is across-section Vthrough -one sidexof the top of .the bag, the bag support bracket 'andthe bla-g cov'er, "shownin Figs Il, 2 :and :3, takenat '7L-7, Fig. '3.

`Fig. 8 is a vertical `section through oneiside of the top of the bag, the bag support bracketand vthe :pivoted bag supporbbracketfbrace, taken at 8 8, Fig. l.

lvFig. 9 is-a cross-section through the pivoted jointof the links connecting the -tubularhandle vsupport members .and the `-undercarriageiframe shown, Iin Fig. 1, taken'at 49 9, Fig. l.

Fig. 10 is 2a cross-section through the 'tubular vertical lhandle support member, and the clippivotallysupport- .ing -the 'bag support kbracket `brace, -taken at v10-10, Fig. l.

It will .be understood that rthe following'deseriptionof .theconstructionand the method of'utilization-and opera- @tion ofthe fcollapsible utility cart, is intended 'as explanatory s of 1 the .invention and not :restrictivev thereof.

-In .the drawings, .the-:same referencenumeral-s designate .thesame partsfzthroughout the variousfviews, exceptwhere otherwiseindicated.

One embodiment of the constructionfshownin Figs. `1 .and-2,.comprisesan undercarriageor carriage, restingon apair offfront 5wheels 11a and 1I1b and a pair of rear wheels .12a and.12b, mounted on individual axles l13and 1-14, .whiehsupport'a carria'gebasemember 15 of substantially rectangulargform .the vside arms 16a and 1'6b tof which are attachedtothe axles, vwith a handle frame :17 havinga pairof framesidemembers .-18 and 19, :the lower .ends of .which arepivotally attached to -the side members .of vthe .undercarriage frame, and a container fg'enerally designated .20, .which vis removably supported by'handle `support members.

yApair'ot .collars v21a and 2lb may be mounted on A'each of .the axles .13 and .-14 .to locate the wheels, relative vto the carriage .base side members.

The-container 20 consists of a fbag 24 of substantially rectangular .cross-section, a'eover 25 detachablyfsecured .to the .bag 24 bymeans of snap fasteners 426, and atubular, U-.shaped1bracket 27, Iwhosearms are traversed attheir ends'by a cross bar 28 andto whchthe top of the 'bag l24 is attached, Vas .best'seen in Figs. 6-8.

The upper end of the .container which is made of a heavy -fabric such as .canvas,ra plastic material, or .other suitable material, may be wrapped around and sewn vor otherwise .attached tothe arms of the Ll-shaped tubular ybracket 27, .inthe mannervshown in section in Pig.'.6. The cover, Vthe rear-portion of vwhich is sewn or-otherwise'attached -to .the crossbar, 28 .is fitted .around-the open top .of .the'bag,.and follows the contour thereof, the edges of the coverbeing attached .tov-the `bag'by a plurality of 'snap fasteners 26, or .other suitablefattaching means.

Thelhandle .frarne 17 comprises a pair of .tubular support ime'mberslS .and 19 which kpass diagonally-from the upper .rear edge `to the .--lower .front edge of the'container 20, thelower ends of these fsupportfmembers 'being Hattened and traversed .by the .reducedends of a ,rod .29 forming a pivotal axis v'for said handle frame side mem- 2,733,930 y p Y bers. The ends of rod 29 also pass through opposite arms of a U-shaped base member 15, which is also pivotable about this rod and which is traversed by a front wheel axel 13, parallel to rod 29 and located a short distance forwardly thereof, and by a rear wheel axle 14,'likewise parallel to rod 29 and located a considerable distance to the rear thereof. The wheels 11a, 11b and 12a, 12b, are mounted on the ends of the front axle 13 and the rear axle 14, respectively. The base member 15 whose parallel side members 16a and 1Gb terminate in short, inturned extensions 31a, 31b at the rear of the cart, supports a removable tray 34, which may be provided `with suitable means, such as depending lugs 35, for properly maintaining its alignment with the base member 15.

The extensions 31a and 31b, formed at the rear end of the base frame 15, may be attached to the rear axle by pins, screws or other suitable means to locate the frame laterally relative to the wheels.

The tray 34 has a plurality of cross-members 32 and 33 attached to the sides thereof, the cross-members being spaced along the tray, in the manner indicated in Fig. 3, to assist in supporting the bottomof the container bag. which rests thereon.

The cross-members may be made of rods of cylindrical form, or wire, the ends being fitted into slots formed in the side bars of the tray or mounted on the upper edge of the side bars, and welded or otherwise attached thereto.

The base member 15 is normally held ri-gid with respect to the handle frame side members 18 and 19, by means of a bracing mechanism which comprises a collar 36a, 3611 on each of these handle side members, positioned less than half-way up from the pivot 29 thereof, a pivot screw 37 on each of these collars, and a pair of links 38, 39, hinged together at 40, on each side of the cart, only those associated with the right-hand handle support member 18 being visible in the drawing. As indicated in Fig. 3, both ends of the rod 29 may be riveted over the side arms 16a and 16b of the base member, a spacer 30a, or 30h being inserted on the rod 29, between the base side arm and the lower flattened end of the corresponding frame side member 18 or 19 to accurately space the handle frame members from the base side arms. Link 38 has its extremities attached to the pivot screw 37 and to the hinge pin 40, respectively, and is provided with a shelf portion 41. which (as best seen in Fig. 9) overlies the link 39 and prevents the latter from rotating clockwise (as viewed in Fig. l) about the pin 40 past a position of relative alignment of the two links; link 39, whose upper end is normally in engagement with the shelf portion 41 and is attached to the hinge pin 40, has its lower end pivotally connected to the side arm 16a of the base member 15 by means of a stud 42 projecting from each of said arms just forwardly of the rear wheel axle 14. Thus the linkage 38, 39 is adapted to be buckled at 40 to assume a position, shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. l, in which the base member 15 occupies a position almost parallel and coplanar with the handle frame side members 18 and 19, having swung clockwise about its pivot rod 29. As indicated in Fig. 1, the lower link 39, has a slot cut therethrough to allow the pivot pin 40 to slide upward along the slot when the link is moved from the extended position, Fig. l, to the folded position, shown in dot-dash lines, Fig. l. y

The container whose lower end rests on the tray 34, is supported at the top with the aid of trough-shaped brackets 43a, 43b, secured, respectively, to the handle side members 18 and 19 and adapted to receive the crossbar 28, as best seen in Figs, 4 and 5. Auxiliary supporting means for the front portion of the bracket 27 are provided in the form of two swingable braces 44a, 44b, each connected to the handle frame members 18 and V19, respectively, by means of a pivot screw 45a, 45b held in a collar 46a, 4Gb which surrounds the respective handle frame side member. Eachof these braces is provided with a depending spur 47 (only one shown) whose bifurcate end straddles the corresponding handle bar and prevents further clockwise rotation of the brace (as viewed in Fig. 1) when the latter has reached a position in which its upper extremity extends substantially vertically upwardly; this upper extremity, which is sheathed in a rubber sleeve 49a, 49b, is curved outwardly and forms a bearing for the bracket 27, with portions of bag 24 and the cover 25 wrapped therearound, when the brace is in its stable, extreme position in which its spur 47 bears upon the handle side member as shown in Fig. l. Each of the spurs 47 attached to or integral with the lower end of the corresponding brace 44a, 44h, has a U-shaped bifurcate end 48 integral therewith, the bifurcated end engaging the outer surface of the handle frame member to retain the container support bracket 27 in a horizontal position.

The rubber sheath 49a, 49h, may be a separate hollow rubber sleeve fitted over the upper end of the brace 44a, 4417, on it may be cemented or otherwise attached to the upper end of each of the braces, to protect the bag 24 and the cover 25 from abrasion.

The two brackets 43a and 43h shown in Figs. 4 and 5 have a tubular member fitted over and attached to the corresponding handle frame side member 18 or 19, the trough shaped slots receiving the ends of the cross-bar 28 which supports the container bracket 27. The two slots, which are angularly positioned, relative to the bag axis, retain the bag in place and permit its ready removal by removing the cross-bar with the container bracket attached thereto, from the slots in the brackets 43a and 43b.

From the foregoing description and from the drawing it will have become apparent that normally, that is to say, when the cart according to my invention is in use or is ready for use, the members 38, 39, 44a, 44b will occupy the positions shown in solid lines in Figs. 1-3

' and will form a rigid structure adapted to support the container 20 in the position shown, with the handle frame side members 18 and 19 extending upwardly and rearwardly at an angle of, say 60-75 with respect to the horizontal base member 15. The cart may then be wheeled in the usual manner or left standing without external support; the container 20 may be lifted bodily from the cart, or the bag 24 thereof rendered accessible by partial or total removal of its cover 25, without interfer-ing with the mechanism 37-42 which braces the cart against collapse.

When it is desired to move the cart over steps or stairs without prior removal of the bag 24, then the linkage 38, 39 may be buckled to assume a position intermediate those shown in Fig. 1 in solid and in dot-dash lines, whereby the rear wheel assembly 12a, 12b and 14 will be raised and the front wheel assembly 11a, 11b and 13 will be slightly lowered with respect to the pivotal axis 29; this will greatly facilitate upward or downward transportation of the cart. When, on the other hand, the cart is to be stored away in'a limited space, the container 20, and the tray 34 are removed or left attached to the base member andthe members 15, 38, 39 are caused to assume the position shown in dot-dash lines, in which the frame structure of the cart is collapsed to an almost planar state so that its volume will be a minimum, the braces 44a, 44b having been swung counter-clockwise (as viewed in Fig. l) into a retracted position adjacent the handle side members. .In moving the links 38, 39 from the rigid position shown in Fig. l, to the collapsed position shown in dot-dash lines, Fig. 1, the central pivot 40 moves along the slot cut through the lower link 39, thereby allowing the links to move into the folded position.

The unit may be produced in a wide range of sizes and types to suit particular operating conditions.

The container may be of the cross-section shown in the drawings, or it may be varied in cross-section to suit particular capacities and operating conditions.

The cross-bar supporting the rear end of the container sesso .5 lsupport -bracket, and :the "method of supporting it on 4the `h'andle "frame members maybe altered "c' nsdeab1y.`

It-will @be apparent vto one skilled 'in the Aart "thatapplin eants'princples .may be applied in'many moditied'forms andtherefore `'the fllowing `t`vilaims should I not E'be limited to 'the `forms illustrated but 'be deemed "to'apply 'to 'all vequivalents as well.

What is .claimed is: y

l. utility cart comprising apair of elongated handle members, pivot means .on said handle members, la base member swingably attached to vsai'd'handle members with the aid of said pivot means, a front wheel lassembly on said base member comprising an .axle .located :forwardly of said pivot means, a rear wheel assembly on said base member comprising an faxle located (rearwardly of said .pivot,means, bracing means selectively operable-.to maintain lsaidbase member rigid with respect to said handle members at a Vrelativelyvlarge anglethereto and :to enable 'swinging of said "base member toward a position of substantial alignment with said handle members, a bracket attached to each of said handle members, a crossbar located between said handle members removably supported by said handle member brackets, a tubular U-shaped container support bracket iitted between the handle members pivotally supported by the cross-bar, and swingable braces attached to the handle members operative to receive the front portion of the tubular container support bracket when the swingable braces are located in an angular position relative to the handle members, means integral with the swingable braces engaging the handle members to retain the swingable braces in the operative position, said swingable braces being retractable into a position substantially parallel to and adjacent said handle members.

2. A utility cart comprising a base member, a pair of elongated handle members, pivot means swingably con necting said base member to said handle members, a first link member pivotally secured to said handle members, a second link member pivotally secured to said base member, hinge means pivotally interconnecting said link members, abutment means on one of said link members so engaging the other of said link members in an aligned position thereof as to prevent unidirectional relative movement of said link members past said aligned position, said link members when thus aligned maintaining said base member rigid with respect to said handle members at a relatively large angle thereto, said link members being adapted to be disaligned in a manner causing relative rotation of said handle members and of said base member toward a position of substantial relative alignment thereof, a bracket attached to each of said handle members, a cross-bar located between said handle members removably supported by said handle member brackets, a tubular U-shaped container support bracket iitted between the handle members pivotally supported by the cross-bar, and swingable braces attached to the handle members operative to receive the front portion of the tubular container support bracket when the swingable braces are located in an angular position relative to the handle members, means integral with the swingable braces engaging the handle members to retain the swingable braces in the operative position, said swingable braces being retractable into a position substantially parallel to and adjacent said handle members.

3. A'utility cart comprising an undercarriage, a front wheel assembly and a rear wheel assembly on said undercarriage, a pair of handle members rising from said undercarriage and swingably connected thereto intermediate said wheel assemblies, collapsible bracing means connected to said undercarriage and to said handle members, said bracing means being positionable to maintain said handle members rigid with respect to said undercarriage and at a steep angle thereto, a bracket attached to each of said handle members, a cross-bar located between said handle members removably supported by said handle member brackets, a tubular U-shaped container support ybrackettte'd'between the handle memberspivotlly .supfported byt he 'cross-bar, and :swingable -braees 'attached `to the handle vtn'enib'ers 'operative "to "receive -the "frnt jportion 'ofthe Ltubular -c'ntain'er supportibracketwh nfthe swingable "braces are located yin an yangular position rela- 'tive `t`o the lhandle members, `means 4integral with .the .swingable braces engaging the 'handle Nmembersfto retain the fswin'g'ablefbraces lin 'the 'operative position, .said sw-ii'ig- :able braces "being fadaptedto be .retracted irito a position substantially 'parallel 'to 'and adjacent said 1handle y.nt-ein- Abers.

11.11A utility lcart comprising lan `unde'rcarriagefa.front wheel assembly .and Tarear wheel assembly onsaid .undercarriage, `a Ipair'of handlesmenibers rising `from said `.u nc'ier- -c'a'rria'ge .and .swingably .connected thereto near :the front thereof, collapsible bracing .means connected` .to said undercarr'iage vnear @the rear .thereof and to said .handle members, saidbr-acing means Vbeingpositionable to. maintain .saidlhan'dle members .rigid wi'thrrespectto said under- 'carr'ia'g'e in rearwardly tilted position, a containerlocated between said handle members, said container comprising a bag open at the top and a bracket secured to said bag near said top, xed support means on said handle members operative to removably receive the rear portion of said bracket, and swingable support means 'on said handle members operative to removably receive the front portion of said'bracket in an operative position of said swingable support means and to be retracted into aposition substantially parallel with and adjacent said handle members upon'removal of said container. j

5. A utility cart comprising an undercarriage, a front wheel assembly and a rear wheel assembly on said undercarriage, a pair of handle members rising from said undercarriage and swingably connected thereto near said front wheel assembly between the latter and said rear wheel assembly, collapsible bracing means connected to said undercarriage near said rear wheel assembly and to said handle members, said bracing means being positionable to maintain said handle members rigid with respect to said undercarriage in a rearwardly tilted position, a container located on said undercarriage between said handle members, said container comprising a bag open at the top and a bracket secured to said bag near said top, xed support means on said handle members operative to removably receive the rear portion of said bracket, and swingable support means on said handle members operative to receive the front portion of said bracket in an operative position of said swingable support means and to be retracted into a position substantially parallel with and adjacent said handle members upon removal of said container. f

6. A utility cart comprising an undercarriage, said undercarriage including a base member and a tray re movably resting on said base member, a front axle on said base member having a pair of front wheels securedthereto, aV rear axle on said base member having a pair of rear wheels secured thereto, a pair ofhandle members rising from said undercarriage and swingably connected to said base member near said front axle between the latter and said rear axle, collapsible bracing means connected to said base member near said rear axle and to said handle members, said bracing means being positionable to maintain said handle members rigid with respect to said base member in rearwardly tilted position, a container supported by said tray intermediate said handle members, said container comprising a bag open at the top, a bracket embraced by a top portion of said bag fixed support means on said handle mem bers operative to removably receive the rear portion of said bracket, and swingable support means on said handle members operative to removably receive the front portion of said bracket in an operative position of said swingable support means and to be retracted into a position substantially parallel with and adjacent said handle members upon removal of said container.

' assembly and a rear wheel assembly attached to said undercarriage, a pair of handle support members rising v CII from said base member, means pivotally connecting said handle support members to the base member, a first link member pivotally secured to each of said handle support members, a pair of link members pivotally secured to the base member, hinge means pivotally connecting each set of link members, abutment means on one of the link members so engaging the other of said link members in an aligned position thereof as to prevent unidirectional relative movement of said link members past the aligned position, said link members when thus aligned maintaining the base member rigid with said handle support members at a relatively large angle thereto, a container positioned on the tray mounted on the base member intermediate the handle support members, said container comprising a bag open at the top, a tubular bracket embraced by a top portion of said bag and a removable cover for said bag fastened around said bracket, a cross-bar pivotally supporting the rear portion of said bracket, a pair of fixed brackets attached to the handle support members, said brackets removably supporting the cross-bar, and swingable braces attached to said handle support members, operative to receive the front portion of said bracket in an operative position of said swingable braces, means integral with the swingable braces engaging the handle support memb'ers lo retain the swingable braces in the operative position.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 863,274 Haney Aug. 13, 1907 1,576,075 Tisdell Mar. 9, 1926 2,616,718 Heideman Nov. 4, 1952 y 

